CVE-2016-7607 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2 is affected. macOS before 10.12.2 is affected. watchOS before 3.1.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Kernel" component, which allows attackers to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2024
This vulnerability resides within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that affects multiple platform versions. The issue manifests when a specially crafted application can access kernel memory regions that should remain protected from user-space processes. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the memory protection mechanisms that separate user applications from the core operating system kernel. The vulnerability enables attackers to extract sensitive data that should be inaccessible to regular applications, potentially exposing system internals, cryptographic keys, or other confidential information stored in kernel memory spaces.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with common kernel-level information disclosure vulnerabilities classified under CWE-200, which deals with exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient validation of memory access permissions or improper implementation of kernel memory management controls. Attackers can exploit this weakness by constructing malicious applications that leverage specific system calls or memory access patterns to read kernel memory locations that should normally be restricted. The vulnerability operates at a privilege level that bypasses standard user-mode protections, allowing unauthorized data extraction from the most sensitive parts of the operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains access to kernel memory contents that may include system credentials, encryption keys, or other critical information that could enable further exploitation. This weakness can potentially lead to privilege escalation or provide attackers with the information needed to craft more targeted attacks against the system. The vulnerability affects iOS versions prior to 10.2, macOS versions prior to 10.12.2, and watchOS versions prior to 3.1.3, representing a significant portion of Apple's deployed user base at the time of discovery. The impact is particularly concerning because kernel-level access provides attackers with unprecedented control over system operations and data protection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the official security updates provided by Apple, which address the kernel memory access controls that were improperly implemented. System administrators and users should immediately update their devices to the patched versions of iOS, macOS, and watchOS to eliminate this attack vector. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might indicate attempts to exploit kernel memory access vulnerabilities. The remediation process involves patching the kernel memory management subsystem to properly enforce access controls and prevent user-space applications from reading kernel memory regions. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to limit the execution of potentially malicious applications that could exploit such vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date system security patches and the potential consequences of running outdated operating system versions that may contain unpatched kernel-level flaws.